I can’t really explain it, but often before a fun activity, I just don’t feel like going. I know the activity or event will be fun, but for some reason, I just feel like staying at home. Maybe it’s just easier to stay home. I often use the excuse “it’s too hot” or “too cold” or “too rainy.” Seems like there are a lot of weather related excuses for avoiding fun.
I don’t think it’s anxiety about the pending event, although it could be. It’s more like I’m just comfortable and don’t want to change my comfort. It’s so very strange that even for something fun, I don’t want to give up my boring comfort. This happens a lot with Jeep club activities, but maybe that’s because most of my scheduled activities involve my friends in the Jeep club. This last weekend for instance, we went to a local go-cart track. It was cold outside and the Jeep was still dirty from the campout the weekend before (and needed some post campout maintenance.) Two excuses to just sit at home in warmth and comfort.
I ended up getting over that inaction hump and went to the go-cart track. Of course we had a blast. Everyone was freezing cold, especially whipping around the track in a go-cart, but we all had a fantastic time. Then we all went out to eat dinner. Dinner with friends is always fun with conversation flowing and good food being consumed.
Of course, this is how most activities turn out, and I even realize this ahead of time when my inaction response kicks in. It’s really just a matter of getting over that hump; convincing myself ahead of time that the upcoming event is going to be full of fun. I have to get past the comfort of the current moment to experience fun in the next moment.
The more I think about it, the key component of this seems to be “comfort.” It’s quite possible to cruise through life in complete comfort. Doing so will be nice, will feel average, and will be all around mediocre. The real fun and adventure is outside of the comfort zone. Think of all the exciting things in your own life. How many of those are comfortable? It’s likely that most are not. Most exciting things stretch outside of comfortable. Do you think mountain climbing, sky diving, traveling, or even go-cart racing is comfortable? Likely not. These activities all require a bit of uncomfort. (spell check doesn’t like uncomfort, but I think it works quite nicely)
Let’s embrace the uncomfort and find some excitement. Let’s use the excitement to get over the inaction hump, and let’s have some fun in this lifetime. Think about comfort leading down a road of boring, and focus on the fantastic times to be had in the uncomfort, the action, and the do. Get pumped up in so that you can get out there and allow yourself to have fun.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG…I didn’t realize that anybody else went through this. On the weekends, there is a CONSTANT battle going on within my mind…to go or not to go. Just as you said, everytime I do go ahead and take action, I have a great time. I think I just get so overwhelmed with the act of congress that it takes for us to “just” get out of the house. AND as we are dressing to go many things around the house get out of order, so now I have to clean up when I get back (LOL!)…just never ending…
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Eric Watermolen
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March 1st, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Patrenia, It’s official, you’re not the only one
I didn’t even touch on the whole getting ready to go process. You are right on about just getting out of the house. Especially if it’s a morning activity, there’s the whole, taking a shower, getting our items packed in the car, getting my daughter dressed. Good thing it always turns out to be worth the effort of getting out.
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This sounds like Newton’s First Law of Motion: An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. This law is often called “the law of inertia”.
So I guess it is just science. But of course we are not just objects so we can “will” ourselves to overcome this inertia.
I also experience this over and over again. We went boating last week and I had to get up earlier than usual etc etc but once on the water we had such a great time. I just need to remember how much fun we had when it is time to go out next time or head out on another adventure.
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Eric Watermolen
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March 2nd, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Julie, Oh of course! I should have thought of that, it’s exactly like Newton’s First Law of Motion. The “will” is the unbalanced force that gets us moving. Brilliant observation.
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I’m so glad to hear even a fun-loving guy like you faces this, Eric. Oh my, I’ve lived it, my husband lives it, and so many of my clients are stopped in their tracks by the comfort thing. Part of it is that we think we need a lot of “recovery” time from the big, overwhelming world out there. That belief operates at such a deep level we don’t even recognize it usually. And let’s face it, our lives in this country are set up to be quite comfortable. So I think constantly reminding ourselves that happiness means stretching out of our comfort zones and getting past the hump is tremendously important.
Patty @ Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: The Big Rabbit Edition
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Eric Watermolen
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March 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Yep Patty, that comfort gets me too. It’s been especially tough to escape it’s grasp in this colder than normal winter. Us Florida folk are used to wearing shorts most of the winter, but this year we are layering on the jackets. I usually beat that comfort though, and even tonight I braved the cold to hang out with some friends.
I have to laugh every time I reply to comments on this topic. In the comments admin section of Wordpress the title of the post is displayed next to the comment. Long post titles are split into two lines. In this case “Getting Over the Inaction” is on the first line, and “Hump to Start Having Fun” is on the next line… Makes me laugh every time I see it.
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